#002 thought piece - 'what's in my bag' what's the affinity?
a look into one of the most loved & practised trends from the last half century
The inside of someone’s bag is a vulnerable, even sacred space. It’s a place where the most intimate of items mingle with the inanimate and the truest expression of self is assembled effortlessly. The anatomy of someone’s bag is the most candid and honest reflection of who they are. A culmination of notebooks and lip balms, a half opened muesli bar (where the crumbs have collected in every crevice), the entire medicine cabinet, and an old polaroid of your daughter with 2 pieces of already chewed gum stuck to it (a candid from Molly-Mae Hague’s British Vogue interview), “If the bag itself is a projection of how we want to be seen, its contents are a mirror of who we really are” - Liana Satenstein.
Over the last half a century, we have developed this curious, obsession about what others carry around with them day to day, also translating to a prying, nosey-ness about ‘what’s in your bag’. It’s a trait I notice in those of us who equally enjoy keeping up with (whether or not we admit it) celebs, pop culture, usually the MET gala (i mean am I wrong?) fashion trends (whether or not we follow them [please refer to thought piece #001]), (if ur a millennial i’m gonna say;) blogs that are called things like ‘spoosh’ and ‘moop’ (…Poosh and Goop…) and generally relishing in the inessential, frivolous details of strangers lives … is that nosey? I say; inquisitive.
I think this is a trait that has travelled, particularly in women’s circles, across generations, only now, with the facilitation of social media, people across the world can now know exactly what Florence Pugh has been carrying in her beige Valentino.
[*side note* I’ve been trying to dig around the web to find the root of this affinity and just happen to have fallen into an unrelenting hole of Vogue YouTube videos interviewing celebrities, asking them to divulge the contents of their handbag … ie the playlist on their Chanel titled ‘What’s in My Bag’ that plays each video one after the other without me having to lift a finger. I sat down to write for an hour and instead I’ve consumed every celebrities ‘what’s in my bag’ from Katy Perry to Alexa Chung (goat)…. I don’t know how to stop!]
If there’s one book I aspire to acquire in life, it’s one of the only 10,000 Kate & Andy Spade ‘Contents’ publications that were printed in 2000 - a collection of ''photographic personality portraits''. Published almost a quarter of a century ago, it maintains the reputation of being the most adept piece of documentation on the subject to date.
“It occurred to us that the items in your handbag essentially define who you are and what is important to you,'' Ms. Spade said. ''We wondered, 'Would women from all walks of life be willing to show us their personal possessions, their keepsakes, their car keys?”
- Kate Spade to NY times
It’ fascinating just how much you can gauge about a person from what they choose to carry around with them. Kate and Andy capitalised on this by asking 46 different women (from New York’s most iconic to civilians like “Janet Kim Sallon, a New Jersey piano teacher”), to share the real, un-staged and unaltered contents of their bags accompanied, instead of their name, with the title of their occupation. I imagine this gave readers a chance to muse about who these people are and potentially be surprised if/when the authenticity of someone’s bag doesn’t match their persona. The reader is left to interpret these people based purely off their lifestyle and the things they carry around with them on the daily. It’s genius.
Helen Gurley Brown was editor in chief of Cosmopolitan for 32 years (while we’re here, I note that you should read Park Avenue Summer - though entirely fictional, the book gives a real insight into Brown based on a lot of people who really did work with her and is just a v v good read). Her bag; USA Flag Estée Lauder compact, leopard print tissues, black Philip Kingsley comb, Gale Hayman Hot Coral lipstick and a Lancôme Flamelle lipstick, screams prepared to be seen, ready to be put together at all times, subtle patriotism and a quiet audaciousness, which, based on what I know of her, seems appropriately matched to her character.
Famous NY Gallerist Mary Boone’s bag included a healthy amount of Chanel; Chanel Tawny Lipstick, Chanel Aqua Crayon Color Stick and Chanel Cognac Color Stick, summarising a very no bullshit, put together woman who doesn’t have time for frivolity in her art dealing/collecting lifestyle (???). While Susan Morrison (fashion editor for the New Yorker at the time) details a Dermabelle Elisabeth of Hungary Moisturizer, Chanel Cocoa lipstick, Mustela sunblock SPF 16 (does SPF 16 even do anything?) and a Mason Pearson brush, suggesting she’s someone who cares about her skin health and looking presentable, but isn’t overly fussed with the reapplication of makeup throughout the day… i’m bullshitting now, I don’t know.
Mackenzie Wagoner (Into The Gloss) notes that, though the book was published over 2 decades ago, “very few of the objects photographed would look out of place in our bags today”. It’s almost like the skeleton of a women’s handbag is consistent with the addition and substitution of a few bones here and there. The nature of the ‘necessities’ women carry with them hasn’t much changed, which is kind of a refreshing concept in a world where everything constantly has to ‘keep up to date with the trends’ (bar the Nokia 3310 which is now an iPhone 287239872).
In a radio interview, Time magazine reports Hilary Clinton said she carries “hot sauce in (her) bag”, (specifically Sriracha from a Whole Foods inside brand or a mini Tabasco), an interesting insight which at first, doesn’t seem to match the persona I initially associated with the politician (maybe due to the fact it is unabashedly (probably also unwittingly) a Beyonce reference) and a characteristic I attribute to people who’s cultures lean towards preparing and enjoying spicy food (ie not Clinton’s English/Welsh/Dutch background). Some say this was another attempt from her to ‘pander to black voters’ during election time but she divulged to Time that she simply likes the health benefits that eating spicy food provides your immune system. Whatever the motive, maybe this was just an example that there’s more to people than meets the eye and we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover… but instead by what they carry in their bag :P.
Before the ‘What’s in My Bag’ phenomena took on a whole new meaning and became an industry of its own, it wasn’t more than a fun task that may or may not yield some funny or interesting insight into someone;
Nonchalantly spilling the contents of her backpack on to a hotel room floor, Fiona Apple divulged candidly to Spin in 2002 she carries around "A bag of jewels and ribbons... makeup... lighters... rolling papers... lots of empty card packets from when David [Blaine] was around... lots of hotel bills... the Jenny McCarthy book — I like her... a tin of makeup someone got me... a book of poetry about death... my psychiatric medication," a successful example of the flippant, genuine kind of result the question was/is meant to provoke.
However Sheila McClear wrote for Racked that the contents of women’s personal spaces has now become somewhat of a “feminine performance, a shorthand to reveal something authentic (or) interesting”. The idea of a performance adverts to something more calculated all together. Where does the desire to parade the inner contents of one’s bag stem from. There’s a silent sort of desperation to be seen. Maybe it began as an honest form of expression but it seems the “what’s in your bag'“ exercise soon became a diluted way for celebrities to push a persona they want to be associated with and turn something mundane into something aspirational. It’s something that, when calculated, can reveal how you want to be seen (ie; notably exempt from most ‘what’s in my bag's’; dirty tissues, cookie crumbs, scrunched up notes from things you scribbled down when you were talking on the phone and old chewing gum re-rolled in the wrapper). How will you present, when you know you’re being seen…
From the aforementioned sizeable amount of videos I consumed under British Vogues’s “What’s in My Bag’ Youtube playlist, it didn't take long to discern a pattern - various makeup/skincare products (high and low end to show versatility while still keeping you at arms length), perfume, sunglasses, an unconventional item, some sort of healthy snack, wire earphones (because apparently celebs can’t keep track or AirPods), and their latest PR deal or personal merchandise (the OG ‘shameless plus’).
Halaria Baldwin’s (Gucci Aphrodite) bag contents, which she disclosed to US weekly (who have standardised a whole column in their magazine for the purpose of reporting on the insides of celebrities handbags), reveals a very modest, family orientated lifestyle through her list of; “necessities, including baby bottles, wipes, snacks, toys and more — Hilaria is a busy mom of seven, after all!”, the standard list of ‘go to’ makeup products (Charlotte tilbury, YSL etc), Husband Alec Baldwin’s wallet since she “admitted they tend to misplace things (so) decided to carry it for him in her purse” plus museum cards “to the Museum of Natural History and the Urban Air Trampoline Park …“The kids love activities””.
I really don’t mean to come for Halaria, I don’t even really no who she is. I’m sure she’s a great mother and wife? I don’t even mean to call out celebrities in general (even though that is exactly what I’m doing).
But is it really pessimistic to look upon this as exhibitionist? One could be more trusting and choose to believe that these celebrities are simply sharing with an open heart and choosing to reveal some honest part of themselves that shows their ‘just like us’ (only wrapped up in a Gucci Aphrodite bag with a handful of designer lipsticks and sunglasses thrown in). Or you could perceive that perhaps these people, whether blatantly or subconsciously, are broadcasting carefully selected (and or inflated) parts of themselves so that you believe they are good mothers who care about educating their children and spending quality time with them, caring wives, intellectuals who read Zadie Smith and prepare healthy snacks while still being fun and ‘quirky’ - showing you they are just the right amount of unique and relatable.
Is it an act to incite you/us/the audience to conflate their desired perceptions of themselves … with themselves?
Even if so, maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. At the end of the day, we all care (at least) somewhat how we’re perceived (otherwise we wouldn’t put any effort into getting dressed or buying new jewellery or paying for those extortionately overpriced haircuts every few months) because it reflects what people think of us based on how we present. I’m sure being a celebrity isn’t easy with the public persona that involuntarily comes with the role, thus I guess I too would make more of an effort to think about how I might be perceived. But I think there’s a difference in caring about your perception and completely altering who you are to create a different perception.
Maybe I sound like a cynic. After all I consume this content voluntarily and always enjoy it … hell I’ve always wanted to contribute to it (which I now have :D in the following array of flat lays of my bag(s) from the last week (…which I leave open to you to determine from them what you want about me … did I curate them? did I literally just dump the contents of them to photograph before I left the house? I could tell you but what’s the point after the ramble I’ve just been on … take from it what you will))
It was definitely an unnecessary exercise and doesn’t add whatsoever to the piece I’m writing here … but, like I said, I’ve secretly always wanted to do this + my design eye couldn’t help but revel in the enjoyment of laying all my objects out in a satisfying little formation on Photoshop :D
I don’t know what can be deduced from my bag(s) … maybe that I’m always prepared for boredom, chapped lips and a curly girl hair situation.
To circle back, I suppose I just think it’s good to wonder about what motivates some things before we drop to our knees worshipping people we don’t know. Maybe I’m hoping to remove some of the ‘aspirationalism’ from this content that leaves it to be pure entertainment.
This reminds me of a much loved corner of the internet of mine; girlswhocluster - an Instagram page whose objective is to function as a space documenting the messy, real and authentic reality of a girls bedside table/medicine cabinet/jewellery box/wardrobe/bedroom floor etc etc. Via submissions from likeminded girls who cluster, the pages is a curation of iPhone quality photos of the candid state of some corner of their lives that happens to fit in with this ‘aesthetic’ - an aesthetic totally born out of a mindset/way of being; a love of collecting things/a tendency to attach oneself to inanimate things/an inability to part with these things. Little trinket boxes, postcards, love notes, stickers, random beads, I could go on and on, probably because I identify and feel very seen by this page (for some reason I’m unable to go anywhere for more than a night or 2 and not have my bedside table turn into this incredible collection of trinkets (from where? no-one knows, the things just appear). But, my point is, girlswhocluster is a different kind of example that fulfils a similar purpose as the ‘what’s in my bag’ while sustaining some kind of authenticity in today’s age.
Wherever it comes from, the fascination of peeking into the ‘bag’ of someone’s life, be it their actual bag, their bedside table or the bottom drawer of their office desk, is something that will stay persistent throughout time because humans (especially those who identify as ‘girls who cluster’) are naturally inquisitive beings. So will remain the desire to be perceived and the habit of passing judgement. But whatever you choose to carry around, be it 6 sonny angel dolls and a banana, or your dog’s monkey chew toy and a stack of old, incomplete, stamp cards from different coffee shops, do it with pride because at the end of the day, it’s a beautiful reflection of some intimate, little part of you :)) (…unless you’re a celeb who we can all tell has obbbviously curated their bag for one of those Vogue video’s … then you gotta take a look inside … <3)
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Love this!